Anchor



March y7, 1944. w, F WARREN 2,343,350

ANCHOR Filed Nov. 25, 1941 lll/1117 Patented Mar. 7, 1944 ANCHOR Walter F. Warren, Hermosa Beach, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cooper Aircraft Mooring Co., a copartnership Application November Z5, 1941, Serial No. 420,391

8 Claims.

This invention relates to anchors of the type .that can be set into the ground without making an excavation therefor, and is particularly useful in small, light-weight anchors such as may be carried by aircraft for mooring the craft when on the ground.

An object of the invention is to provide an anchor of the type referred to which can be easily set in and removed from the ground, while at the same time affording good anchorage.

A more specific object is to provide a screwtype anchor that can be readily started into the ground.

Still another object is to provide an anchor of the self-setting type that is relatively free from clogging, and is reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor that can be set and expanded rapidly.

Another object is to provide an expanding anchor which is both set and expanded by application of torque to a single member.

Other more specic objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawing of a particular embodiment of the invention.

Briefly, the anchor in accordance with the lpresent invention consists of a pointed, tubular member having a screw thereon, whereby it may be forced into the ground by rotation, and having flukes which are contained within the body of the tubular member while the latter is being screwed into the ground but are forced out into solid ground that has been undisturbed by the screw, after the member has been set to full depth. Such devices are broadly old, and the present invention resides in details that result in a more practicable device.

One such detail is a construction whereby entry of sand or soil into the tubular member through the fluke openings is minimized.

Another detail is a construction that permits pounding on the upper end of the anchor to start it into the ground and enable the screw to obtain a purchase on the soil.

Another detail is a simple and eiective clutch mechanism whereby a single rotating member positioned at the top of the anchor can be selectively coupled to the hollow tubular member for screwing it into the ground, or uncoupled from the tubular member for rotation relative thereto to -set the nukes of the anchor.

Other features will become apparent from the detailed description with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of my anchor shown set in the ground with its nukes extended;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through my anchor with the nukes contracted.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lower portion of the anchor taken at right angles to the view of Fig. 2, and taken partly in elevation and partly in section;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are cross-sections taken in the planes IV-IV, V-V, VI-VI, and VIL-VII, respectively, of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the upper end of the tubular housing of the anchor.

Referring first to Fig. l, the anchor therein disclosed comprises as its main external elements a tubular housing I0 terminating at its lower end in a point II and having a screw ange I2 positioned a short distance above the point II. The housing I0 is surmounted by a heavy cap I3 having an eye I4 therein for receiving a cross bar I5 for turning it, or for receiving a cable to be anchored. There is positioned just below the cap I3 a trigger sleeve I6 which is used to engage and disengage the cap I3 to and from the tubular housing I0.

'Ihus referring to Fig. 2, the driving cap I3 is screwed onto the upper end of a spindle Il which is rotatable within the housing I. The cap I3 is further positively locked to the spindle I'I by a pin I8 which is extended transversely through the cap and the spindle. The spindle II is held against vertical movement with respect to the housing IIl by a split sleeve I9 which engages an annular groove 20 in the spindle and is rigidly secured to the housing I0 by a plurality of bolts 2 The cap I3 has a downwardly extending notched skirt 22 which overhangs the sleeve IB, and the notches of which at all times engage the teeth of a notched disc 23, which lies on top of the housing I0 and is centered with respect thereto by the spindle Il, which extends through a central hole in the notched disc. The latter is thinner than the vertical space between a shoulder 24 on the spindle Il and the main undersurface 25 of the cap I3, so that it is movable vertically through a short distance. It is normally held in the lower position shown in Fig. 2 by a plurality of compression springs 26 mounted in recesses extending upwardly into the cap I3. In this lower position, the notches in the disc 23 not only engage the teeth in the notched skirt 22 of the cap I3, but also engage the teeth 2l on the upper edge of the tubular housing I0, so that the disc 23 locks the housing I0 to the spindle I'I and the cap I3, for rotation therewith.

However, by moving the notched disc 23 upwardly against the force of springs 26, it is carried clear of the teeth 2 on the upper end of the tubular housing lil, so that the cap and the spindie Il can be rotated relative to the housing Iii. The disc 23 can be moved upwardly by the trigger sleeve I6, the upper edge of which lis substantially flush with the bottoms Aof the notches in the upper end of the housing IE! when the trigger sleeve is in its lower position. This lower position is determined by bayonet slots 28 in the trigger A sleeve which engage with the bolts 2|" extending from the housing. In Fig. el' the sleeve l isi shown elevated and rotated to lock it in upper position in which the cap i3 is disconnected from the tubular housing I3. Except when Lthe trigger sleeve I6 is forcibly restrained in upper position, the compression springs 26 maintain the trigger sleeve andthe kdisc 23m lower position, locking the housing IU for rotation with vthe capli.r` s

The trigger sleeve IB isprovided with an outwardly extending flange 2 3 Vat its lower end, which ange has sections 3|) thereofrturned down to engage the soil when the anchor approaches full depth, and also has a downwardly extending skirt extending substantially coextensive, vertically, with .the `section 33. L s

The spindle Il, whenrotated relative te the tubular housing Idiunctions to set or. retract a pair of flukes 3l and 32 which are shown in set position in Fig. l and in retracted position in Fig. v2. To this end, the lower portion of Lthe spindle Il is .provided with internal threads33 which engage a screwll on lthe upper end of a rod l35, which extends down through the housing i and is rigidly attached at its lower end, as by threads 33 and welding'Ldto a carriage block 3B slidably mounted within the housing Ill. This carriage block 38 is bifurcated vatits lower end, and between the Ybifurcations 39. there are pinned the hinge lugs Iii), @ill of the ilukesl 3|` and ,32, respectively. Each of the flukes comprises a fiat blade portionlfiid havinga chisel edgeZ` at its free end and having `a reinforcing rib Alli extending along its upper side and constituting a continuationo the butt portion EL y Y. y

When the flukesare fully retracted, as shown in Fig. 2, thelbeveled lower ends of the nukes constitute continuations Vof the conical surface it of the point Il, and recesses are provided in they tubular housing mimmediateiy above the point through which the flukes project. is best lshown in Fig. 3, these openings are congured to substantially snugly receive the flukes when in the retracted position as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the openings are substantially completely closed by the flukes to prevent the entry of soil into the housing while the anchor is being forced down into the ground. However, the notches in the openings provide room for'passage of the vertically thin butt portions do of the iiukes when they are moved into expanded position, as shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines` in Fig. 2.

The rod 35' is preferably'provided with flanges i3 at intervals therealong, which flanges slidably 'engage the inner surface of the tubular housing Ill and prevent the rod 35 from buckling when it is beingforced downward to extend the nukes 3| and 32.

My anchor may be operated as follows: While in the condtionshown in Fig. 2, the point II is started into the ground by hammering on the cap I3 with a suitable maul or hammer. It is preferably driven into the ground until an appreciable portion of the screw I2 is in engagement with the soil. Thereafter the cross bar I (Fig. 1) is inserted into the eye I4 of the cap, and the bar rotated and pressed down simultaneously. With the anchor in the condition shown in Fig. 2, the trigger vsleeve I3 is in lower position, in which the disc 23 is in engagement with the teeth 21 in the upper end of the housing I0, so that the entire anchor is rotated with the cap I3. This causes the screw to draw the anchorinto the ground. Continued rotation and downward movement of the anchor finally e carries the downwardly depending members of the trigger s'l'eeve into contact with the soil, so that the latter tends to rotate the sleeve counter-clockwise and simultaneously lift it, with respect to the tubular housing I3. Continued rotationm and ydownward movement of the anchor finally develops suioient upward andv counterclockwise force on the trigger sleeve ItA to carry in into its upper position as shown in Fig. l, disengaging the disc 23v from lthe teeth 21 ofthe housing Ill so that the cap I3 can thereafter rotate with respect `to the anchor housing. Accordingly,l further rotation of the y.hand bar I5 rotates the spindlek I1 with respectv to the threaded rod 35forcingthe latter downwardly within the tubular housingto set the .flulies 3| and 32 into the eXtendedposition-shown in Fig. l. Complete setting of the fiukes is indicated by increased resistance to rotation/of the cap |3. The bar I5 is then removed from the cap I3 and the cable to Abe anchored is inserted in the eye I d and secured in place. y

When vthe anchor is to be removed from the ground, thevhandbar I5 Ais again inserted in the eye of the cap I3 and rotated in counter-clockwise direction. This elevates the rod 35 to retract the lukes 3| and 32 back into the housing. vWhen retraction is completed, further relative movementA between thevspindle Il and the rod 35 is prevented by contact of the upper end of the rod with the end 43 of therecess there in, so4 that Afurther rotation of the `cap is transmitted to the housing I0. This causes the trigger sleeve I6 to be carried in the reverse direction, moving the notches inthe bayonet slots away from the bolts 2| so that upon further lifting .movement of the ancho-r .suicient to carry the members 30 of the trigger sleeve clear ofthe soil, the trigger sleeve can drop down to again permit engagement of `the teeth of the disc 23 with the 'notches Ain the upper -end of the housing I0.

Rotary movement of the carriage 3B with repect to thetubular housing I@ is'prevented by thev fiukes 3| and 32, which interlock with their passages in the housing. However, itV may Vbe desirable in` some instances to provide additional locking means for preventing rotation Yof the carriage block 33 and the Vrod 35. yThis additional means might incorporate a` longitudinal key on the inner surface of the housing `I' engaging suitable grooves or show keyways inthe carriage Yblock 3.8 andthe nukes 45.

VIt will be obvious that it is not essential 4to always operate the device in the exact 4manner described. Thus the trigger sleeve i3 can be actuated manually to set the nukes 32, without relying upon the nreaction of lthe soil to perform this function. This method of :manual v*actuation of the sleeve I6 can be employed when'it is'desired to extend the flukes 3l and'32 without rstscrewing in the anchor to its full depth.

Various departures fromthe exact construction shown and described can be made without departing from the invention; the latter is, therefore, to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An anchor comprising a tubular body member adapted to be penetrated into the ground and having a nuke-opening therein, a fluke adapted to be moved between a retracted position lying substantially completely within said tubular body member and parallel thereto and an extended position in which the duke is extended through said opening, means movable longitudinally in said body member for projecting and retracting said fluke through said opening, said opening being substantially lled by said nuke when the latter is in retracted position within and extending parallel to said body member and said body member and the underside of said fluke having cooperating similar contact surfaces which contact with each other over a substantial area extending inwardly from the orce of said opening when said fluke is in retracted position, whereby entry of soil through said opening during ground-penetrating movement of said ancho-r member is minimized.

2. An anchor comprising a tubular body member adapted to be penetrated into the ground and having an approximately conical point on its lower end, with a fluke-opening immediately above said conical point, a nuke adapted to project through said opening and means within said body member pivotally connected to the inner end of said fluke for moving it vertically within said tubular member to extend and retract said nuke, said duke having a beveled outer end dimensioned to ll said opening and shaped to extend substantially ush with and constitute a continuation of the surface of said conical point when the iiuke is in retracted position.

3. A screw anchor comprising a tubular body member having a screw thereon for forcing said body member into the ground in response to rotation thereof, a fiuke movably supported for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to said body, a member rotatably mounted within said body, and means for extending and retracting said nuke in response to rotation of said rotatable member, a turning member on the upper end of said body member and means permanently connecting it to said rotatable member for movement in unison therewith, and clutch means selectively operable for selectively locking said turning member to said body member for rotation therewith or releasing said turning member for rotation with respect to said body member to actuate said fiuke.

4. A screw anchor comprising a tubular body member having a screw thereon for forcing said body member into the ground in response to rotation thereof, a fluke movably supported for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to said body, a member rotatable within said body, and means for extending and retracting said fluke in response to rotation of said rotatable member, a cap secured to said rotatable member and extending beyond the upper end of said tubular body member, said cap having a notched skirt extending down around the upper end of said body member, a notched disc concentric with said body member and positioned 'between the later Vand said cap, said notched disc having teeth extending radially past said body member into engagement with the notched skirt on said cap, the upper end of said tubular member having notches overlapping said notched skirt and engageable with the notches in said discwhen the latter is in a lower position, the disc being movable into an upper position clear of the notched upper end of said body member, and means for selectively positioning said disc in either said upper or said lower position.

5. A screw anchor as described in claim 6, in which said means for selectively moving said notched disc comprises a sleeve surrounding said tubular member and adapted to engage its upper edge against the underside of said disc, and means for releasably supporting said sleeve in an upper position in which it engages said disc and lifts it clear of the notched upper end of said tubular body member.

6. A screw anchor comprising a tubular body member having a screw thereon for forcing said body member into the ground in response to rotation thereof, a nuke movably supported for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to said body, a rotatable member within said body, and means for extending and retracting said fluke in response to rotation of said rotatable member, a turning member on the upper end of said body member, clutch means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said turning member to and from said body member, clutch-control means movable downwardly with respect to said body member for engaging said clutch and movable upwardly with respect to said body for disengaging said clutch, said clutch-control means including means extending radially from said body member at such longitudinal position thereon as to encounter the ground when said body member has been screwed into the ground to a predetermined depth, whereby when said depth is reached said clutch-control means is restrained from downward movement with said body member, and disengages said clutch to permit rotation of said rotatable member by said turning member without rotation of said body member.

7. A screw anchor comprising a tubular body member adapted to be penetrated into the ground, a nuke movably supported within the lower portion of said body member for movement between a retracted position substantially completely within said body, and an extended position in which a portion of said nuke is exterior of the body member, means for moving said nuke comprising a carriage block pivotally connected to the iiuke and slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said body member, a rod secured to and extending from said carriage block upwardly through said tubular body member, means in the upper portion of said body member for applying a downward thrust to said rod to move said carriage block, said rod having a flange intermediate its ends in sliding engagement with the interior of said tubular body member for preventing buckling of said rod in response to compressive forces applied thereto.

8. An anchor comprising a tubular body member adapted to be penetrated into the ground and having a nuke-opening therein, a fluke adapted to be extended through said opening, means movable longitudinally in said body member for projecting and retracting said fluke merging into a rib extending' along saidv blade portion, and said opening being of T shapewhereby it conforms to and is filled by the outer end' of saidv fluke when the latter is' retracted to' 5 minimize inlet of soil through said opening dur-- ing ground-penetrating movement of said anchor member. l

WALTER F. WARREN. 

